Cryptococcosis is the most
serious of
the
fungal infections in people diagnosed with
AIDS.
It is usually seen as
cryptococcal meningitis (CM).
It is estimated that between 5% and 10% of
AIDS patients will experience cryptococcal infection
at some point during the course of the disease,
often as the first opportunistic infection experienced.
Without treatment, cryptococcosis is always fatal.
Current therapies can usually suppress cryptococcosis in
patients if the initial weeks of acute symptoms are survived.
Cryptococcosis is caused by a yeast-like organism,
Cryptococcus neoformans. This fungus is not geographically
restriced, and is common in all environments, especially
in soil containing bird excrement. Exposure occurs when
contaminated sources become airborne and are inhaled.